After a brief rest in Steelforge City, they made their way toward the teleportation platform.
The station was immense, a field of towering stone pillars, each carved with dense formation patterns that glowed with soft, pulsing blue light. The hum of spiritual power filled the air, vibrating through their bones.
They purchased passage to their next destination:
Skyreach City- famed for its prestige, strict order, and terrifyingly powerful residents.
The formation got activated.
A flash of light swallowed them whole.
Arrival at Skyreach City
When they stepped out of the teleportation array, the world itself felt different.
Skyreach City stretched farther than the eye could track, a metropolis of grandeur. Floating pagodas drifted lazily through the sky, spirit jade towers caught the sunlight like sharpened blades, and massive flying ships moved between cloud layers like silver whales.
The air was thicker with spiritual energy than any place they'd visited so far. Even ordinary pedestrians carried themselves with restrained strength, the kind born from status, power, or lineage.
A large sign carved into street banners greeted them:
No Violence Within City Limits... Violators Immediate Execution.
The words carry a subtle suppressive force.
Jìn Bǎo gulped.
They had walked only a few steps when a neatly dressed young boy approached and offered a polite bow.
"Honoured guests, welcome to Skyreach City. From your looks, I can tell you are new here."
After a brief pause, he continued, "I am Fei Ming. For a modest fee, I can serve as your guide, introducing the city to you, like pavillons to do business with, and the… areas or people you should avoid at all costs."
Yu Lianxue's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"How much?"
"Ten spirit stones," Fei Ming replied with a professional smile.
Yu Lianyan gave a small shrug. Jìn Bǎo muttered dramatic complaints under his breath but still handed over the payment with trembling fingers.
And just like that—
Fei Ming became their guide through the legendary Skyreach City.
The City Tour
Fei Ming led them through Skyreach's famed districts with the confidence of someone who had repeated this route a thousand times.
The Radiant Market — stalls overflowing with rare herbs treated like gemstones, each protected by formations and hovering preservation talismans.
The Hammerforge Quarter — every ring of metal on metal reverberated through the ground, a place where blacksmiths with arms like iron pillars forged weapons that glowed fresh from the flames.
The Jade Pavilion District — elegant walkways, floating lanterns, and a constant flow of nobles, scholars, and cultivators who carried themselves with effortless pride.
Chu Feng remained silent, but his eyes moved constantly. With every step, his world quietly expanded.
Then Fei Ming halted.
He pointed to a vast, majestic, unmistakable towering structure ahead.
"That, honoured guests… is the Skyreach Alchemy Association."
The building dominated the district.
Colossal stone pillars carved with ancient cauldrons. Incense coiling upward in spiralling trails of spiritual smoke. Golden-flame embroidery glimmering softly across thick curtains.
But none of that was what truly caught their attention.
A massive banner stretched across the entrance:
Alchemy Competition — Tomorrow at Dawn!
Chu Feng stared at the banner, wordless for a moment.
Yu Lianxue's eyes flickered to Chu Feng.
"Interested?"
"…Yes. " His tone was calm,
Fei Ming chuckled knowingly. "Then you've come at the perfect time. This competition draws alchemy talents from far beyond Skyreach.
Renting a Courtyard
After the tour, and following Fei Ming's recommendation, they rented a modest courtyard near the central district. Not luxurious, but quiet, clean, and tucked far enough from the main road to avoid unnecessary eyes.
It was perfect.
Once everyone had settled in, Chu Feng slipped out alone.
He returned to the Skyreach Alchemy Association, drawn as if by instinct.
Inside, towering shelves formed a maze of ancient knowledge. The scent of herbs clung to the air. Apprentices carrying trays of ingredients darted between rooms where cauldrons simmered and rumbled like restrained beasts.
A kindly clerk approached him with practised gentleness.
"You seem new here. What do you seek, young friend?"
"Beginner alchemy manuals," Chu Feng replied calmly.
The clerk's eyes softened with understanding.
He selected several thin books and placed them into Chu Feng's hands one by one:
— Basic Flame Control — Herb Compatibility and Reactions — Fundamentals of Pill Formulas — Introduction to Spiritual Herb Extraction
"These are a good start," the clerk said. "Remember... alchemy isn't simply about refining pills. It refines the heart as well. Impatience is the enemy."
Chu Feng bowed respectfully and paid without hesitation.
By the time he left the association, the moon had climbed high above Skyreach's skyline.
An ocean of lantern lights shimmered below, bright as scattered stars.
Tomorrow… The alchemy competition would begin.
Dawn came early in Skyreach City.
Before sunlight even touched the highest pagodas, the plaza before the Skyreach Alchemy Association was already alive with movement.
Cultivators of all ages gathered outside the grand pill hall, some talking excitedly, others watching calmly with folded arms. Vendors nearby shouted about steamed buns and spirit tea; the smell of fresh food mixed with the faint, clean scent of herbs drifting from the association building.
Chu Feng and the others remained on the edge of the crowd, cloaks on, hoods lowered just enough to remain inconspicuous.
Yu Lianxue gazed toward the entrance, where enormous banners reading Alchemy Competition fluttered against the morning breeze.
"Let's go in," she said.
They moved with the flow of people entering the main hall.
Inside, the grand building had transformed into a vast arena.Tiered seating formed a massive ring around a central platform where dozens of pill furnaces stood ready.
Each furnace had its own stone station, equipped with a small jade table, herb trays, and measuring tools
Each furnace sat on its own stone station, with a small table beside it for herbs and measuring tools.
Chu Feng's gaze swept over the scene steadily.
Above the platform hung a massive formation screen, glowing softly, so spectators could clearly see every movement of the competitors below.
The air hummed with expectation.Around them, whispers stirred — about famous young alchemists, secret clan techniques, and rumours of influential judges attending this year.
But Chu Feng didn't listen.
His gaze was locked on the pill furnaces below.